SEC Spring Check-In: Georgia looks to assert itself as top-dawg in new-look SEC

Before the Texas Longhorns officially join the Southeastern Conference on July 1, Inside Texas is going around the SEC to check in with each of Texas’ new conference mates for updates on the latest spring storylines, important roster notes, and much more as the Longhorns embark upon life in a new league.

Palmer Thombs, team beat writer for DawgsHQ, took the time to answer questions surrounding the mighty Georgia Bulldogs as Kirby Smart‘s team looks to make a return to the College Football Playoffs after narrowly missing this past season.

1. How much different will the SEC be in ’24 not only with Texas and Oklahoma joining, but also the elimination of divisions?

Playing Texas and Oklahoma will definitely be different for teams in the SEC, but losing the annual matchups that we’ve all gotten so accustomed to within the East/West division model is probably an even bigger change. Georgia still draws the likes of Tennessee and Kentucky from the old East along with the traditional rivals of Florida and Auburn, but not playing South Carolina is going to sit weird with a lot of folks. I do enjoy the fact that we’ll get to see more marquee matchups between the Bulldogs and the teams that have traditionally been stronger in the West (i.e. Alabama, LSU, A&M/Ole Miss if you want to include another), and it adds intrigue to the SEC Championship Game with the league’s top two teams squaring off, but there’s no doubt it’s going to feel very different.

2. What is the spring storyline to track on offense for the Bulldogs (transfers, star recruits, coaches coming and going, etc.)?

How does Georgia go about replacing Brock Bowers? The tight end position is important to UGA’s offense, and the coaching staff showed that by going out and getting a transfer portal addition in Stanford’s Ben Yurosek. While he won’t be on campus until the summer, the effort to fill Bowers’ shoes starts this spring. And it’s not just a tight end thing either. With his unique skillset, Bowers became a big bodied receiver in many ways, putting pressure on all the pass catchers to step up. I like what Georgia did to add not only Yurosek, but also a trio of wide receivers (London Humphreys – Vanderbilt, Colbie Young – Miami (Fla.) and Michael Jackson III – USC) in the transfer portal. Guys that they added last year as well (Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas) are back, as are the likes of Dillon Bell, Anthony Evans and the always dangerous Arian Smith. Yes, people will point to Oscar Delp as next in line of the great Georgia tight ends, but I believe the storyline is bigger than just that single position.

3. What’s the spring storyline to track on defense for the Bulldogs?

If there was one to track on defense, I’d have to say it’s the turnover in the secondary. Georgia is forced to replace a trio of starters on the back end and they come at different positions (one safety, one STAR, one cornerback). All three are going to get drafted, and that goes to show the caliber of player that’s been manning those positions. Oh by the way, both the safeties and cornerbacks coaches are being replaced too with Fran Brown off to Syracuse and Will Muschamp stepping into an advisory role.

The Bulldogs do return All-American safety Malaki Starks, and cornerback Daylen Everette started all 14 games in 2023. It also doesn’t hurt with the way Kirby Smart has recruited defensive backs. Joenel Aguero was the nation’s No. 3 safety in the Class of 2023, and he’s going to factor in at either safety or STAR. There’s guys at cornerback too like Julian Humphrey and Daniel Harris, both of whom flirted with the transfer portal but ultimately decided to come back to Athens. Then as you look at the freshmen, Ellis Robinson and KJ Bolden represent the No. 1 player at cornerback and safety respectively. The talent is there, but the experience will have to be gained by being thrown into the fire and learning from mistakes early in the season.

4. Which returner from the 2023 roster was the most important for Georgia?

Without a doubt, Carson Beck is the biggest returner to the Georgia roster in 2024. The Bulldogs dealt with transition at the quarterback position last year with a first-time starter and saw the growing pains of Beck come out at times. He was able to overcome those and put together an impressive season, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards on a school-record 72.2% completion rate. With Beck at the helm, Georgia’s offense finished No. 5 nationally in both total and scoring offense. So, bringing him back means a chance to see what a potentially improved version of that would look like with another year of comfort in a Mike Bobo offensive system. 

I can’t help but think back to the success Georgia was able to have offensively in 2022 with Stetson Bennett behind center for another year. He used a full offseason at the unquestioned starter to his advantage and gained comfort and confidence to take strides forward on the field. I believe Beck is capable of doing the exact same.

5. Which transfer portal addition was the most important for Georgia?

Georgia’s running back room was thin last year after the loss of Branson Robinson for the season to a ruptured patella tendon during fall camp. Both Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton dealt with injuries at times, leaving walk-on Cash Jones, wide receiver Dillon Bell and freshmen Roderick Robinson and Andrew Paul as the only healthy options. With Edwards and Milton off to the NFL and Branson still battling the rehab from his injury, running back was a glaring need – even with three signees in the Class of 2024.

In comes Trevor Etienne from Florida. He spent two seasons with the Gators and was a productive player in a two-back system, sharing reps. Now, he’ll arrive in Athens as the top option from the jump with an opportunity to help the Bulldogs chase another championship. That was attractive to him, and his skills were attractive to Georgia, making a perfect – and important – match out of the portal.

6. Which class of 2024 signing was the most important for Georgia?

When I read the last two questions, there was a no doubt easy answer in my mind. That’s not the case with this one, and that says a lot about the top-ranked class Georgia is bringing in. I settled on five-star plus+ safety KJ Bolden for a couple of reasons. First of all, safety is a position of need. Georgia has had a safety taken in the past three drafts and will have another one drafted this year too. In order to sustain that kind of turnover, you have to continue bringing in talent. With Malaki Starks likely off to the NFL after one more season, Bolden represents a look into the future.

Secondly, Bolden also was important in order to protect the home state. The top ranked player in the Peach State and somebody who had spent tons of time on the Georgia campus, being able to flip Bolden from Florida State on National Signing Day goes to show the importance of relationships in recruiting and the pull Kirby Smart and the Georgia G have within the Bulldog borders.

7. The game UGA fans have circled on the 2024 schedule is…

It’s really tough to decide between two for Georgia because both will shape the picture of the SEC and College Football Playoffs. First is the road trip to Alabama in September. This one has meaning because of what the Crimson Tide have done to the Bulldogs over the last decade-plus under the direction of Nick Saban. With Kalen DeBoer coming in there’s an opportunity for a fresh start against Alabama.

The other is the matchup with Texas. Again, it’s on the road and that excites fans – especially when you consider the newness of Austin to Georgia folks. However, on the field, it’s a battle between the two perceived biggest contenders for the College Football Playoff led by a pair of quarterbacks that could be making a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony at season’s end. In a way, this game also represents a fresh start for Georgia, having an opportunity to establish itself as the top dog in the new-look SEC.

8. What are Bulldog fans’ impressions of Texas?

Texas is the shiny new thing in the SEC. The Longhorns, like the Bulldogs, have a talent-rich state to recruit from and do so well. They are a traditional power that’s rising back up the ranks in the world of College Football. Both Kirby Smart and Steve Sarkisian come from the Nick Saban tree and understand what it takes to win. Bulldog fans are excited about the trip and look forward to many battles – both on the field and the recruiting trail – in the years to come as has been the case with UGA’s traditional SEC counterparts.